SEATTLE, July 23, 1997 — Today at the Microsoft® Windows® Platform Briefing, Paul Maritz, group vice president of platforms and applications at Microsoft Corp., outlined Microsoft’s Windows strategy, which enables businesses to meet their changing needs and individuals to get the most out of their computing experience. Microsoft achieves this innovation through a process of “continuous reinvention.” The company will continue to advance every layer of the operating system – driver model, file system, networking infrastructure, kernel scalability, programming interfaces and user interface. Maritz also announced that more than 100 million units of Microsoft’s 32-bit Windows operating systems are currently in use.
“The secret of the PC phenomenon has been that Windows has enabled unprecedented software and hardware innovation on the part of the entire PC industry,” Maritz said. “This process of reinvention will enable Windows to be the common link for an increasing number and variety of computing devices ranging from mainframe class systems, small-business servers, terminals and networked PCs to entertainment and consumer electronic devices.
“This past year we have seen tremendous change in the PC industry, brought about by the promise of the Internet and the demand for simpler, more manageable PC environments,” he said.
Benefits of Windows “Continuous Reinvention”
The Windows “continuous reinvention” strategy is intended to provide a simpler and more integrated computing experience for all users while maintaining compatibility with existing hardware and software, as well as providing customers with continued innovation through evolution. End users will experience easy-to-use connectivity to all types of information; corporations will continue to have a manageable, flexible environment with which to meet changing business conditions; and developers will have a rich and extensible environment while retaining a choice of languages and tools.
Breakthrough Cost-Reduction Technologies
The Windows “continuous reinvention” strategy includes the development of breakthrough technologies, including those built on the Windows NT Server® network operating system version 5.0, one of which is IntelliMirror
™
. IntelliMirror PC management technology will give customers of 32-bit Windows the advantages of centralized computing with the performance and flexibility of distributed computing. It mirrors users’ data, applications and customized operating system settings to a Windows NT 5.0-based server using intelligent caching and centralized synchronization. This means users have access to all of their information and applications, whether or not they are connected to the network, with the assurance that their data are safely maintained on the server. This technology is part of the broader Zero Administration initiative for Windows and will continue to reduce the effort and cost of deployment, installation and PC management.
Microsoft also announced a major push to lower the total cost of ownership and administration of Office applications. These new technologies will offer enhanced options in Office that will allow it to run from a server, system preferences that allow “roaming users” to log on from any desktop, and install-on-demand capabilities that automatically update files as needed by each user, allowing minimal installations of each Office application. The goal is to cut in half the ownership cost for Office applications.
Maritz indicated that the pace of innovation and subsequent cycle of reinvention continue to accelerate. “As a result, we expect that by 2000 there will be 5 million new Windows-based applications shipping, nine out of 10 new client/server applications being developed for Windows NT Server, and 3 million developers building solutions based on Microsoft Office,” he said.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT and IntelliMirror are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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